Stonewards Class Comparison: Warrior, Miner, Hunter, Mage
Compare every Stonewards class in Early Access: roles, strengths, weaknesses, and how to unlock archer and rogue based on community gameplay.
Last verified: September 24, 2026 — Game version: Stonewards Early Access 0.2.2 hotfix on top of 0.2.0 “Later Summer” (current). Facts come from official Steam sources and verified player reports.
Stonewards splits the work of mining and defending between distinct classes. Each class has a clear default role, but gear and upgrades let you bend the archetype. This comparison covers the base classes plus the unlockable options reported in Early Access footage.
Base Class Comparison
| Class | Default Role | Strengths | Weaknesses / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Frontline melee | High melee output, holds choke points, can repair walls under pressure | Needs HP and armor to survive larger waves |
| Miner | Resource gatherer | Digs faster, carries more resources back to the forge | Weaker direct combat; relies on team to defend |
| Hunter | Pet/ranged support | Companion pet adds free damage; safer than pure ranged | Companion positioning can be inconsistent |
| Mage | Spellcaster | Ranged magic and area damage | Charged attacks feel slow in fast waves; needs setup |
Reported Unlockable Classes
Footage shows additional classes that may be locked behind in-run objectives. Treat these as community-reported until official patch notes confirm the exact unlock rules. Since 0.1.6, the in-game Character Screen also lists the mission required to unlock each character, so you can check the current requirement there instead of guessing.
| Class | Reported Unlock Condition | Role Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archer | Open 10 treasure chests in a run (community gameplay, 43:37) | Ranged DPS; must craft arrows from wood or the bow is useless (community gameplay, 04:13) |
| Rogue | Upgrade Player Attack 6 times in a run (community gameplay, 43:37) | Confirmed to use dual-wield weapons since 0.2.0 (official); the rest of the kit is not detailed in patch notes |
Class Pairing Tips
| Team Size | Recommended Mix |
|---|---|
| Solo | Miner or Warrior with Dig Strength + self-heal upgrades |
| 2 players | 1 Miner + 1 Warrior/Hunter |
| 4 players | 1 Miner, 1 Warrior, 1 Hunter/Mage, 1 flex damage |
Building Each Class
- Warrior: Player Attack → Armor → Max Health → attack-speed ring.
- Miner: Dig Strength → Movement Speed → Stamina → Crit Heal ring.
- Hunter: Companion upgrades first, then knockback and crit to keep enemies away.
- Mage/Archer: Only commit once your team can keep waves off you while you charge shots; otherwise play like a melee with a ranged backup.
For upgrade details, read our upgrade options cheat sheet. For team play, see the multiplayer and co-op guide.
Class Changes Since Hotfix 0.1.5
| Patch | Change | Class impact |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1.6 | Archer ranged and charged attack damage slightly reduced; Projectile Bonus support added for Mage and Healer; Character Screen shows the missions needed to unlock each character | Archer needs more investment; Mage and Healer gained a new scaling line |
| 0.1.7 | Companion moves faster and travels farther, with more health and slightly more damage; Poison and Fire damage scale with the player’s attack damage; Companion healable at the Fireplace and by the Healer; Healer and Mage projectile collision improved | Hunter and Healer both play noticeably better |
| 0.1.8 | Staff rarity now correctly affects Healer healing and Mage damage | Magic-gear quality matters again |
| 0.2.0 | Rogue can use dual-wield weapons; Artificer bomb damage scales with the Artificer’s Attack; new weapons (Mace, Legendary Bow, Legendary Small Axe, Double Small Axe) and rings added | More weapon options per archetype |
| 0.2.1 | Warrior base Stamina increased; Bonus Projectiles fixed on magic staves below 100% chance | Warrior frontlining is more forgiving |
| 0.2.2 | Companion kills can crit and drop Gold; Artificer Bombs use the same damage calculation as other weapons, critical hits and the Berserker buff included | Hunter and Artificer both gained damage |
Sources
- The Boys are Dwarves (community gameplay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-XuIMMYeW8
- Official Steam store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4502710/
- Official Steam announcements hub: https://steamcommunity.com/games/4502710/announcements/
- Steam Community discussions: https://steamcommunity.com/app/4502710/discussions/
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